Mdladlana slams construction sector

labour minister membathisi mdladlana has spoken out strongly against the construction industry, saying the sector has completely disregarded the occupational health and safety regulations.

the minister was speaking during the parliamentary media briefing week in cape town today.

he said his department however was making strides to ensure workers' safety.

the minister said it was for this reason that his department recently conducted 747 inspections and issued over 1 100 contravention notices as well as 175 prohibition notices.

of the most recent and most tragic, a three-year-old boy died last week after falling into a sewage manhole that had been left uncovered and not barricaded.

karabo gwala, who was buried in dube, in soweto today, disappeared for three days before his body was found in a sewage cutting machine ten kilometers from where he had fallen.

on investigation, the labour department discovered the johannesburg metro council had violated health and safety regulations.

the department has since instructed the council to stop further work at the site, until all investigations have completed.

the minister warned the inspections and enforcement would intensify, emphasising that it was only the most recalcitrant bosses that could expect help with the implementation of labour legislation.

on other labour issues, mr mdladlana said his department would initiate an additional five labour centres and 37 satellite offices throughout the country to ensure further effective implementation of labour legislation.

he commended the inspector visibility during blitz inspection that it increased awareness on education and law enforcement.

he said the blitz innovation had improved inspector productivity beyond the set standard.

"each month, intensive advocacy work is followed by a month of national blitz inspection. in this campaign," he said.

speaking about skills development in the country, mr mdladlana said this revolution was on track and gaining momentum.

he said the benefits of the skills development amendment act of making the sectoral education training authorities (setas) more accountable to the ministry, were being felt.

he said a total of over 45 000 young and previously disadvantaged people were in structured, workplace skills development programmes making the figure a shortfall of 25 000 towards the growth development summit target of 72 000 for this year.

for this reason, the department planned to intensify the learnership campaign with a massive drive to meet the target.

"other plans for the immediate future includes rolling out the lead employer pilot project, where the administration burden of taking on learners is removed from small and medium enterprises.

this project is a precursor to the introduction of the employment and skills development agencies," he said.

he said other plans included the promulgation of a sectoral determination for children in the performing arts